Astros Crawfish Boil: Thursday, January 5, 2023

It’s the Thirsty Thursday Boil!

Houston Astros News

Astros’ entire broadcast team to return in 2023 ($houstonchronicle.com$)

Here’s why Astros’ AL West reign should continue (mlb.com)

Astros could send shockwaves with some bold choices | Stone Cold ‘Stros #4 (houston.sportsmap.com)

Houston Astros’ 2022 World Series run immortalized in documentary (chron.com)

Astros Rotation: Are Framber Valdez and company the best in the MLB? (sportskeeda.com)

MLB News

Ex-Astros Slugger Could Be Perfect Piece For Red Sox To Bolster Team’s Depth (si.com)

Hosmer agrees to deal with Cubs (source) (mlb.com)

MLB trade market reset: Top players who could be dealt before Opening Day, and teams that could make moves (cbssports.com)

The 10 MLB Teams That Have Improved the Most This Offseason (bleacherreport.com)
The Yankees rank at number three because, mostly, Yankees. The other NY team is deservedly at number one. Not a sniff of Houston anywhere, but you know what? I don’t think the Astros needed to improve very much (but they did anyway).

8 prospect-related predictions for ‘23 (mlb.com)

MLB rumors: Johnny Cueto getting looks from several teams; Zach Davies stays with Diamondbacks (cbssports.com)

Five questions about Trevor Bauer’s potential MLB return as Dodgers face deadline for decision (cbssports.com)

Brewers add RHP Wilson in trade with Bucs (mlb.com)

Angels tab Randazzo as new play-by-play announcer (mlb.com)
I don’t know about all of you, but I like listening to the opposing broadcast around a quarter of the time. Gives me a good feel for how everyone else sees us.

Angels News: MLB Insider Praises LA’s Offseason Approach (si.com)

Oops! All Astros: Hector Cuevas

Hector Cuevas is a six-foot-six, 223 lb. right-handed reliever from San Cristobal, DR. Born on August 24, 2001, he signed his first professional contract with Houston on September 16, 2021. In 2 ¹⁄₃ innings of work, he walked three, struck out two, and allowed no runs on one hit for the Rookie-level DSL Astros.

The 2022 season would see Cuevas open the year as part of the DSL Astros Orange squad pitching staff. As is the case with a lot of young pitchers in Houston’s system (and everywhere else, probably), Cuevas walks a lot of batters, gives up a lot of runs, and strikes out a lot of guys.

In Cuevas’ first appearance, on June 6 in an 11-4 loss to the DSL Blue Red Sox, he struck out six in 3 ¹⁄₃ innings of relief, but also surrendered four runs on five hits and a walk. In what was certainly his best appearance of the season, on August 11, he pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and collecting one strikeout in a 7-5 win against the DSL Astros Blue squad.

In 24 ²⁄₃ innings in total, Cuevas collected 33 whiffs, but also issued 31 bases on balls. He allowed 30 earned runs on 27 hits, ending up with a 2.351 WHIP, a 10.95 ERA, and a .278/.452/.433 opposing slashline. Clearly not ready for primetime, there’s sufficient grounds to keep him no higher than where he spent last season while he figures out the strike zone.